paddle tennis

noun

1. a game combining elements of tennis and handball, played with paddles and a rubber ball on a screened court about half the size of and having a lower net than a tennis court.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paddle tennis¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

That park has four paddle tennis courts that frequently ring with the distinctive “thunk” of plastic balls hitting pickleball paddles.

From Los Angeles Times

“I knew Matt when he was 16 years old. We used to play paddle tennis together. He’s about 10 years younger than me. And he was a great, funny, funny, funny kid.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I live near a paddle tennis court, which is basically tennis but on a small court. And at these courts, I saw this big sign that said, ‘Pickleball players, go home’ or ‘Pickleball was not welcome here.’

From Slate

What happened was that pickleball players were sneaking onto the courts when they were open and playing pickleball when this was supposed to be a court for paddle tennis only,” Koebler said.

From Slate

That park has four paddle tennis courts that frequently ring with the distinctive “thunk” of plastic balls hitting pickleball paddles.

From Los Angeles Times